Systemic protozoal disease in hihi and saddlebacks (abstract)

Authors: Twentyman CM, Alley MR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 52, Issue 1, pp 50, Feb 2004
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Avian, Wildlife
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Liver/hepatic disease, Circulatory system/haematology, Pathology, Protozoa
Article class: Abstract

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Abstract: Juvenile hihi or stitchbirds (Notiomystis cincta) and saddlebacks (Philestumus carunculatus) are particularly prone to systemic protozoal infections when kept in high density populations. Granulomatous lesions in the intestine, liver and spleen are associated with proliferating intracellular schizonts. Affected birds become anorexic and lose weight or die suddenly without clinical signs. The protozoan in hihi appears most likely to be Atoxoplasma spp whereas that in saddlebacks is more like Plasmodium spp.

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